African violet
Streptocarpus ionanthus
Also called Saintpaulia and Violet
Houseplant · FloweringWater from below, always. A drop of cold water on those furry leaves leaves a permanent mark.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Hard
- Water
- Every 6 daysFrom below — stand the pot in a couple of centimetres of water.
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- Average to high
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 0.15 m tall · 0.25 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Tanzania
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- The newest leaves at the centre come up small, grey and over-hairy and stay stunted, while the outer ring looks perfectly well.Cyclamen mite · pest
- A pale ring or comet-streak on a leaf exactly where a drop of cold water sat in the sun.Ring spot · disorder